Ahmad al-Abboud fled his hometown of Homs, Syria, four years ago after a bomb nearly killed him

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Ahmad al-Abboud, center, shakes hands with a reporter following a news conference at Della Lamb Community Services in Kansas City, Mo., on April 11, 2016.

A Syrian refugee who resettled in Kansas City as part of the White House’s “surge operation” is adjusting to his new life and his new job, NBC News reports.

Ahmad al-Abboud is working five days a week, six hours a day at a local restaurant. He started his new job last Tuesday.

With the help of an interpreter, al-Abboud said he's still learning English. He also said life in the United States can be lonely, as he often gets homesick.

The 45-year-old fled his hometown of Homs, Syria, four years ago, after a bomb dropped by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s air force almost killed him, riddling his body with shrapnel. The married father of five then found himself living in a refugee camp in Jordan.

Despite the backlash from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and other GOP lawmakers about the Syrian refugee resettlement program, al-Abboud said his family has been overwhelmed by the kindness of the people of Kansas City since they arrived four months ago.